Counting device



Nov. 13, 1945. E. G. RICE commune DEVICE I Filed Nov. 3, 1944 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 13, 1945. E. G. RICE COUNTING DEVICE Filed Nov. 3,1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 z 7z for-.- fr'zzasz cr azzzille 166 Nov. 13,1945. E. 6. RICE 2,389,107

COUNTING DEVICE Filed Nov. 3, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov. 13,1945 COUNTING DEVICE Ernest Granville Rice, Chicago, Ill., assignor toRedson-Rice, Chicago, Ill., a copartnership Application November 3,1944, Serial No. 561,807

17 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for counting sheets, envelopes, cardsor other parts adapted to be moved forwardly by a belt or other conveyorin spaced or overlapping arrangement with respect to each other alongthe conveyor, and it trated in the accompanying drawings, in which hasfor its object the provision of a new and im- Fig, 1 is a top plan viewof my improved maproved form and arrangement of parts of this chine,partly broken away for clearness of illustype by which the row ofenvelopes or other tration; articles on the belt may be offset sidewiseat Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view selected points insuccessively opposite directions taken substantially at the line 22 ofFig. 1; for indicating the division of the envelopes into Fig. 3 is atransverse vertical sectional view bunches of predetermined SiZetakensubstantially at the line 33 of Fig. and

For accomplishing this result, I have provided Fig. 4 is a diagrammaticview showing the con- C yor comp g a W e endless belt driven nectionsbetween the several elements of the eleccontinuously at constant speedand receiving 15. trically operated control means by Which the beltthereon one at a time at intervals the envelopes is shifted laterally atthe desired inte val or other parts to be counted, the forward move- IReferring to the several figures of the drawment of the belt serving tocause the envelopes ings, in which corresponding parts are indicated orother parts to be arranged in spaced or overby the same referencecharacters, l0 and I! inlapping relationship with respect to each otherdicate frame bars in the form of channels at longitudinally of the belt.In the preferred aropposite sides of my machine, supported by legsrangement, means is provided for shifting the l2 of angle-iron andrigidly connected together belt sidewise in successively oppositedirections by round crossbars l3 and by a cross-plate I 4 atpredetermined intervals for causing the ensecured between plates 15 and[6 extending downvelopes or other articles to be deposited differenvwardly from the side bars l0 and II. tially on the belt with thedivision points between Upon the crossbars I3, I have slidably mountedsuccessive bunches clearly indicated. In this aran auxiliary framecomprising side plates l1 and rangement, each bunch of articles isoffset later- I8 rigidly connected together by round crossbars ally withrespect to both the bunch ahead and I9 and 20. At opposite ends of theside plates I! the bunch following. 30. and I8, I have journalled shafts2| and 22 which For carrying the envelopes or other articles extend atopposite sides of the machine into enbeing counted forwardly beyond theforward end gagement also with the side bars 10 and H of of the widebelt, I have provided a pair of narrow the supporting framework, thearrangement being endless belts which extend at their rear ends suchthat the auxiliary frame is slidable easily about the Wide belt so as tobe supported thereby 5 on the cross bars and the shafts. On the shaftand extend forwardly a substantial distance be- 2 I, I have looselymounted a roller 23 between the yond the forward end of the wide belt.In this side plates I! and I8 adapted to support the forairlahgementi 0means is P d d or Sh ward end of a wide endless belt 24, the rear endthe forward ends of the narrow belts laterally, f th belt beingsupported by a roller 25 having while the rear end portions of saidnarrow belts. a keyed sliding mount on the shaft 22 so as to are Shiftedlaterally y their en gement with rotate therewith between said sideplates I! and the wide belt about which they extend. The conl8.Underneath the top ply of the belt 24 I have struction is such that thewide belt and the provided a tray or table 26 supported at its endSpaced narrow belts acting cooperatively S pport portions by thecrossbars l9 and 20, the table 26 the articles in the two-fold alignmentarrangeserving as a support for th t ply so a t k ment in which they arpl n the b ts W it even and level when pressure is applied downout anysubstantial disarrangement as the articles war- 11y th r Th shaft 22 iprovided ith m ve f rw r y nd t h ar l s are still gear 21 thereon inposition to mesh with a gear 28 maintained in their bunched condition onthe rotatably mounted on the adjacent machine by narrow belts after theyhave passed beyond the which articles are fed to the belt 24 ashereinafter ard e of the W b t described. The arrangement is such thatthe The preferred means or ovi g the wide belt belt 24 is adapted to bedriven at even rate conl y comp s a t igger device which is postinuously with its upper ply travelling forwardly tioned directly at thepoint where the envelopes toward the left in Fig. l. or cards aredeposited on the wide belt so as to be At the forward end of themachine, I have prooperated by the envelopes or cards as they move videdan extension comprising a table 29 supinto position on the belt, wherebyI am able to ported at its forward corners by legs 30. In a obtain anaccurate control of the bunching for notch 3| in the forward edge of thetable, I have insuring an accurate count of the envelopes or mounted ashaft 32 so as to support pulleys 33 other articles. and 34 looselythereon, about which narrow end- It is another object of my invention toimprove devices of this type in sundry details hereinafter pointed out.The preferred means by "which I have accomplished my several objects areillusless belts 35 and 36 extend at their forward ends, with their rearends wrapped about the rear end of the wide endless belt 24 so as to bedriven by engagement therewith. The narrow belts 35 and 36 are ofsubstantial length and are fairly loose so that the rear ends of thebelts can be shifted laterally to a slight extent with the wide belt 24without interfering with the satisfactory operation of the mechanism,this result being obtained without any lateral shiftin of the forwardends of the narrow belts.

At opposite sides of the auxiliary frame, I have provided standards 31for supporting bars 38 1ongitudinally of the machine, with a crossbar 39slidably mounted thereon. Upon the crossbar 39, I have mounted arms 40so as to be adjustable transversely of the machine along the crossbarand so as to be adapted to swing vertically about the crossbar. Upon thearms 45, I have rotatably mounted rollers 4| so as to press downwardlyon the belt 24.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 2, my improved machine is located inposition to receive from a suitable delivery means envelopes or cards orother like articles deposited on the belts 35 and 36 and the belt 24 inaligned position longitudinally of the machine for each of a number ofsuccessive shifted positions of the belt 24, with the successivearticles arranged in overlapping relationship as the top plies of thebelts are driven toward the left in Fig. 2. In the arrangement shown,the delivery means comprises two cooperating rollers 42 and 43 betweenwhich the envelopes or other articles pass for deposit on the belts. Insaid Fig. '2, an envelope or card 44 is shown in position between therollers, and a series of such envelopes or cards 44 are shown inposition on the belts. In the arrangement shown in Fig. l, a series ofarticles 44a have been deposited in alignment on the belts, after thecompletion of which operation the belt 24 was shifted toward the sidebar 10 for the deposit of the second bunch of articles 441) in alignmentwith each other but in offset relation to the bunch of articles 44a. Thebelt 24 was then shifted toward the side bar ll, after which a pluralityof the next succeeding bunch of articles 440 were placed on the belt.

In my preferred arrangement, as illustrated, the succeeding bunches ofarticles are of the same size, the timing for the shifting of the beltbeing controlled by means comprising suitable counting mechanism. In theembodiment shown, the action is controlled for causing the deposit oftwenty-five articles in each bunch before the shifting of the belt ineach instance, but it will be understood that any other suitable size ofbunch may be had as desired. My improved control mechanism iselectrically operated, but any other type of control mechanism may beemployed which will insure the arrangement of the articles inequal-numbered bunches.

My control mechanism includes a trigger device 45 carried by a bracket46 mounted on a stationary frame bar 41. The arrangement is such thatthe trigger 48 stands normally in the path of the card or envelope 44 inits movement between the gripping rollers 42 and 43 so that the triggeris given a swinging movement downwardly and for wardly by each articlein turn as it is deposited on the belts 35 and 36. The trigger device isof the type that causes electrical impulses to be registered in anelectrical counter device 49 to which thetrigger device is electricallyconnected, one of such impulses being registered for each all engagingthe trigger. The counter device, in the arrangement shown, has twoelectrical circuits 50 and 5| leading therefrom and arranged so as to beenergized alternately, one being de-energized at the same instant whenthe other is energized.

As is best shown in Fig. 4, the trigger device and the counter deviceare both grounded to the framework of the machine and are connected by alead 52. In this arrangement, the circuit 50 is connected with asolenoid 53 and the circuit 5| with a solenoid 54, the armatures 55 and56 of the two solenoids being in alignment and being connected togetherby links 57 for causing them to move in unison. As is clearly shown inFig. 3, the solenoids are positioned so that a wooden arm 58 carried bythe side bar I! of the auxiliary frame extends downwardly between theends of the connected armatures. The arrangement is such that when thesolenoid 54 is energized the connected armatures move toward the rightin Figs. 3 and 4 for moving the belt 24 and the rear end portions of thebelts 35. and 36 toward the side bar ll of the supporting framework andthat when the solenoid 53 is energized the armatures move toward theleft for shifting the belt 24 and the rear end portions of the belts 35and 36 toward the side bar 10. The arrangement of the counter device issuch that the belts remain in each shifted position in turn during thedeposit of twenty-five cards or envelopes thereon so as to cause thesuccessive articles to be deposited in accurate alignment with eachother along the belts. This insures a clear indication of the divisionpoints between successive bunches of the articles.

With the envelopes or other articles coming forwardly rapidly on thebelts 35 and 36 with the points of division clearly indicated betweenthe bunches of articles, two operators at opposite sides of the table 29are enabled to place each bunch of the articles in a separate envelopeor other container and to pack the accumulating filled envelopes into acarton ready for shipment. By the use of the short wide endless belt 24underneath the long narrow belts 35 and 36 at the point where thearticles are originally deposited, the

arrangement of the articles in aligned relationship in each bunch andwith successive bunches offset laterally with respect to each other onthe belts is readily accomplished, a clear demarcation betweensuccessive bunches being assured. When the articles are carriedforwardly by the narrow belts 35 and 36 beyond the forward end of thewide belt, there may be a slightly greater tendency for disarrangementof the articles, but under ordinary conditions there is no difficultywhatever with respect to distinguishing between the successive bunchesso as to enable an operator to work rapidly with full assurance that thecount is absolutely correct.

The trigger device 45, the counter device 49, and the solenoids 53 and54 as shown in the drawings are of any approved type and form in and ofthemselves no part of my present invention, the devices actuallyemployed by me in my machine having been purchased on the market. It isbelieved to be unnecessary, accordingly, to show the construction ofthese parts or to describe their operation further than is done above.

While I prefer to employ the form and arrangement of parts as shown bythe drawings and as above described, the invention is not to be limitedto such form and arrangement except so far as 1 the claims may be solimited, it'being understood by said auxiliary frame so as to be drivenby the that changes might well be made in the arrangement withoutdeparting from my invention.

I claim:

1. A counting mechanism comprising in combination an endless belt, meansfor supporting the belt and moving it forwardly, means for depositing aseries of articlesto be counted on the belt in longitudinal alignmentthereon, and means for shifting the belt laterally at predeterminedintervals for causing the line of articles on the belt to be offsetlaterally at spaced points for indicating division points betweensuccessive bunches of the articles.

2. A counting mechanism comprising in combination an endless belt, meansfor supporting the belt and moving it forwardly, means for depositing aseries of articles to be counted on the belt in longitudinal alignmentthereon with the several articles arranged in incumbent overlappingposition, and means for shifting the belt laterally in successivelyopposite directions at predetermined intervals for causing the line ofarticles on the belt to be offset laterally at spaced points forindicating division points between successive bunches of the articles.

3. A counting mechanism comprising in combination an endless belt, meansfor supporting the belt and moving it forwardly, means for depositing aseries of articles to be counted on the belt in longitudinal alignmentthereon, and means comprising a trigger device engaging the severalarticles successively at a point closely adjacent to that at which thearticles are deposited on the belt for shifting the'belt laterally afterthe-deposit of a predetermined number of the articles on the belt forcausing the line of articles on the belt to be offset laterally atspaced points for indicat ing division points between successiveequal-sized bunches of the articles.

4. A counting mechanism comprising in combination an endless belt, meansfor supporting the belt and moving it forwardly, means for depositing aseries of articles to be counted on the belt in longitudinal alignmentthereon, and means comprising a trigger device engaging the severalarticles as they are deposited on the belt for shifting the beltlaterally in successively opposite directions after the deposit of apredetermined number of articles on the belt for causing the line ofarticles on the belt to be offset laterally at spaced points forindicating division points between successive equal-sized bunches of thearticles.

5. A counting mechanism comprising in combination a supporting frame, anauxiliary frame slidable horizontally on said supporting frame, aconveyor comprising an endless belt movable on said auxiliary frame at asubstantial angle from the direction of movement of said auxiliary frameon said supporting frame, means for giving said endless belt continuousmovement on said auxiliary frame, means for depositing a series ofartishaft but so as to be movable laterally thereon, means for rotatingsaid shaft so as to drive said belt,continuously, means for depositing aseries of articles to be counted on said belt in alignment with eachother longitudinally of the belt, and means for shifting said auxiliaryframe and said belt laterally at predetermined intervals for causing theline of articles on the belt to be ofiset laterally at spaced points forindicating division points between successive bunches of the articles.

7. A counting mechanism comprising in combination two long endlessbelts, means for supporting said belts in laterally spaced relation toeach other and for moving them forwardly together, means for depositinga series of articles to be counted on the belts in longitudinallyaligned position with each other on the belts, and means for shiftingthe rear end portions of the belts laterally at predetermined intervalsfor causing the line of articles on the belts to be offsetlaterally atspaced points for indicating division points between successive bunchesof the articles.

8. A counting mechanism comprising in combination two long endlessbelts, means for supporting said belts in laterally spaced relation toeach other and for moving them forwardly together, means for depositinga series of articles to be counted on the belts in longitudinallyaligned position with each other on the belts, and means for swingingthe rear end portions of the belts laterally with respect to theirforward end portions at predetermined intervals for causing the line ofarticles on the belts to be offset laterally at spaced points forindicating division points between successive bunches of the articles.

9. A counting mechanism comprising in combination two long endlessbelts, means for supporting said belts in laterally spaced relation toeach other and for moving them forwardl together, means for depositing aseries of articles to be counted on the belts in longitudinally alignedposition with each other on the belts, means underneath the top plies ofsaid belts in position to assist in holding the articles in theirarranged positions on the belts as the articles are carried along by thebelts, and means for shifting the rear end portions of the beltslaterall at predetermined intervals for causing the line of articles forindicating division points between successive bunches of the articles.

cles to be counted on said belt in alignment with each otherlongitudinally of the belt, and means for shifting said auxiliar frameand said belt laterally at predetermined intervals for causing the lineof articles on the belt to be offset laterally at spaced points forindicating division points between successive bunches of the articles.

6. A counting mechanism comprising in combination a supporting frame, ashaft rotatably mounted in horizontal position on said frame, anauxiliary frame slidably mounted on said shaft, an endless belt movablysupported by said shaft and other cooperating supporting means carried10. A counting mechanism comprising in combination two long endlessbelts, means for supporting said belts in laterally spaced relation toeach other and for moving them forwardly together, means for depositinga series of articles to be counted on the belts in longitudinallyaligned position with each other on the belts, fixedly-mounted tablemeans underneath the top plies of said two belts in position to assistin supporting the articles deposited on the belts, and means forshifting the rear end portions of the belts laterally at predeterminedintervals for causing the line of articles on the belts to be olfsetlaterally at spaced points for indicating division points betweensuccessive bunches of the articles.

11. A counting mechanism comprising in combination a comparatively wideendless belt, means for supporting the belt and moving it forwardly, twolong endless belts supported at their rear end portions by engagementabout said first named belt in laterally spaced relation to each other,means for movably supporting the forward end portions of said two belts,means for depositing a series of articles to be counted on saidlaterally spaced belts in position to be supported in part by said firstnamed belt and in aligned position with respect to each otherlongitudinally of the belts, and means for shifting said first namedbelt and the rear end portions of said two belts laterally atpredetermined intervals for causing the line of articles on the belts tobe offset laterally at spaced points for indicating division pointsbetween successive bunches of the articles,

12. A counting mechanism comprising in combination a supporting frame, ashaft rotatably mounted in horizontal position on said frame, anauxiliary frame slidably mounted on said shaft, an endless belt movablysupported by said shaft and other cooperating supporting means carriedby said auxiliary frame so as to be driven by the shaft but so as to bemovable laterally thereon, means for rotating said shaft so as to drivesaid belt continuously, two endless belts supported at their rear endportions by engagement about said first-named belt in laterally spacedrelation to each other, means for movably supporting the forward endportions of said two belts, means for depositing a series of articles tobe counted on said laterally spaced belts in position to be supported inpart by said first-named belt and in aligned position with respect toeach other longitudinally of the belts, and means for shifting saidauxiliary frame and said first-named belt laterally at predeterminedintervals for causing the line of articles on the belts to be offsetlaterally at spaced points for indicating division points betweensuccessive bunches of the articles.

13. A counting mechanism comprising in combination an endless belt,means for supporting the belt and moving it forwardly, means fordepositing a series of articles to be counted on the belt inlongitudinal alignment thereon, a trigger actuated by engagement withthe several articles successively as they are deposited on said belt,and means comprising a solenoid adapted by energization after eachpredetermined number of swinging movements of the trigger to move thebelt sidewise so as to break the continuit of the established line ofarticles on the belt for indicating division points between successiveequalnumbered bunches of the articles.

14. A counting mechanism comprising in combination an endless belt,means for supporting the belt and moving it forwardly, means comprisinga pair of cooperating driven rollers for de-" positing a series ofarticles to be counted on the belt in longitudinal ali nment thereon, atrigger actuated by engagement with the several articles successivelywhile they are moving in the grip of said rollers before deposit on thebelt, and means comprising a solenoid adapted by energization after eachpredetermined number of swing ing movements of the trigger to give saidbelt a lateral movement for causing the line of articles on the belt tobe offset laterally at spaced points for indicating division pointsbetween successive equal-sized bunches of the articles.

15. A counting mechanism comprising in combination an endless belt,means for supporting the belt and moving it forwardly, means comprisinga pair of cooperating driven rollers for depositing a series of articlesto be counted on the belt in longitudinal alignment thereon, a triggeractuated by engagement with the several articles successively while theyare moving in the grip of said rollers before deposit on the belt, meanscomprising a solenoid adapted by energization after a predeterminednumber of swinging movements of the trigger to give said belt a lateralmovement in one direction, and means comprising a second solenoidadapted by energization after the next series of the same number ofswinging movements of the trigger to give the belt a, lateral movementin the opposite direction, said lateral movements of the belt serving tocause the line of articles on the belt to be offset laterally at spacedpoints therealong for indicating division points between successiveequal-sized bunches of the articles.

16. A counting mechanism comprising in combination anendless belt, meansfor supporting the 'belt and moving it forwardly, means comprising apair of cooperating driven rollers for depositing a series of articlesto be counted on the belt in longitudinal alignment thereon, a triggeractuated by engagement with the several articles successively while theyare moving in the grip of said roller before deposit on the belt, twosolenoids in spaced relation to each other with their armaturesconnected so as to be moved in one direction by one of the solenoids andmoved in the opposite direction by the other of the solenoids, and anarm connected with said endless belt for moving the belt laterally andengaging said connected armatures adapted by the energization of one ofsaid solenoids after a, predetermined number of swinging movements ofthe trigger to move the belt laterally in one direction and adapted byenergization of the other of said solenoids after the next series of thesame number of swinging movements of the trigger to move the beltlaterally in the opposite direction, said lateral movements of the beltserving to cause the line of articles On the belt to be offset laterallyat spaced points th realong for indicating division point betweensuccessive equal-sized bunches of the articles.

17. A counting mechanism comprising in combination a supporting frame, ashaft rotatably mounted in horizontal position on said frame, anauxiliary frame slidably mounted on said shaft, an endless belt movablysupported by said shaft and other cooperating supporting means carriedby said auxiliary frame so as to be driven by the shaft but so as to bemovable laterally thereon, means for rotating said shaft so as to drivesaid belt continuously, mean comprising a pair of cooperating drivenrollers for depositing a series of articles to be counted on the belt inlongitudinal alignment thereon, a trigger actuated by engagement withthe several articles successively while they are moving in the grip ofsaid rollers before deposit on the belt, two solenoids in spacedrelation to each other with their armatures connected so as to be movedin one direction by one of the solenoids and moved in the oppositedirection by the other of the solenoids, and a resilient wooden armconnected rigidly with said auxiliary frame for moving the auxiliaryframe and said belt laterally and engaging said connected armaturesadapted by the energization of one of said solenoids after apredetermined number of swinging movements of the trigger to move thebelt laterally in one direction and adapted by energization of the otherof said solenoids after the next series of the same number of swingingmovements of the trigger to move the belt laterally in the oppositedirection, said lateral movements of the belt serving to cause the lineof articles on the belt to be offset laterally at spaced pointstherealong for indicating division points between successive equal-sizedbunches of the articles.

ERNEST GRANVILLE RICE.

